From the staff at the Northampton Community College Libraries in Bethlehem and Tannersville, Pennsylvania.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Politician Betrayed, Murdered by His Own Friends at NCC

Don’t worry, it’s not anyone currently running for office! The assassination victim here is ancient Roman dictator Julius Caesar, who was stabbed to death by conspirators he believed to be friends, on March 15 -- in the year 44 B.C. William Shakespeare transformed this “true crime” story of political intrigue, jealousy and betrayal into the classic play in 1599.

NCC’s theater students will debut their production of Julius Caesar today at 11:00 a.m. in Lipkin Theater, followed by several other performances over the next two weekends. For more information about show times, read this story from Northampton NOW.

If you’ve never seen a Shakespeare play performed live, don’t let the Elizabethan-era language intimidate you. Prepare to watch the play by reading some background information about the plot and characters beforehand, so you’ll know what’s going on. Another option is to watch a film of the play, to get used to hearing English spoken in Shakespeare’s dramatic style. The NCC Libraries have a variety of resources that can help you get the most out of this exciting theatergoing experience.